Objective To explore the effectiveness of anterolateral thigh bridge flap with free skin graft wrapping vascular bridge in repairing complex calf soft tissue defects. Methods The clinical data of 11 patients with complex calf soft tissue defects between April 2018 and October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including 9 males and 2 females, aged 11-60 years, with a median age of 39 years. There were 8 cases of calf soft tissue defect caused by traffic accident, and 3 cases of calf skin infection caused by chronic osteomyelitis. The skin and soft tissue defects ranged from 10 cm×8 cm to 35 cm×10 cm after thorough debridement and accompanied with bone and tendon exposure. There was only one main vessel in calf of 9 cases and no blood vessel that could be anastomosed with the flap vessel could be found in the recipient site of 2 cases. The anterolateral thigh skin flap (the flap size ranged from 12 cm×10 cm to 37 cm×12 cm) was taken to repair the soft tissue defect. The donor site of the flap was treated with direct suture (8 cases) or partial suture followed by skin grafting (3 cases), and the vascular bridge was wrapped with medium-thickness skin graft. Results The flaps of 11 patients survived completely without necrosis, infection, and vascular crisis. The blood supply of the vascular bridge was unobstructed and the pulse was good. The color of the medium-thickness skin graft were ruddy. All 11 patients were followed up 2-40 months, with an average of 19.4 months. The flaps healed well with the surrounding tissues without obvious exudation and color difference. The flaps had normal color and temperature, good blood supply, and soft texture. The shape of the flap and calf contour were satisfactory and the function of the limb recovered well. The donor area of thigh flap healed by first intention without obvious scar formation. The donor area of skin healed well with a longitudinal oblong scar only and the appearance was satisfactory. ConclusionThe anterolateral thigh bridge flap transplantation with free skin wrapping vascular bridge is an effective method for the treatment of complex calf soft tissue defects.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of Flow-through bridge anterolateral thigh flap transplantation in the treatment of complex calf soft tissue defects. Methods The clinical data of the patients with complicated calf soft tissue defects, who were treated with Flow-through bridge anterolateral thigh flap (study group, 23 cases) or bridge anterolateral thigh flap (control group, 23 cases) between January 2008 and January 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. All complex calf soft tissue defects in the two groups were caused by trauma or osteomyelitis, and there was only one major blood vessel in the calf or no blood vessel anastomosed with the grafted skin flap. There was no significant difference between the two groups in general data such as gender, age, etiology, size of leg soft tissue defect, and time from injury to operation (P>0.05). The lower extremity functional scale (LEFS) was used to evaluate the sufferred lower extremity function of the both groups after operation, and the peripheral blood circulation score of the healthy side was evaluated according to the Chinese Medical Association Hand Surgery Society’s functional evaluation standard for replantation of amputated limbs. Weber’s quantitative method was used to detect static 2-point discrimination (S2PD) to evaluate peripheral sensation of the healthy side, and the popliteal artery flow velocity, toenail capillary filling time, foot temperature, toe blood oxygen saturation of the healthy side, and the incidence of complications were compared between the two groups. Results No vascular or nerve injury occurred during operation. All flaps survived, and 1 case of partial flap necrosis occurred in both groups, which healed after free skin grafting. All patients were followed up 6 months to 8 years, with a median time of 26 months. The function of the sufferred limb of the two groups recovered satisfactorily, the blood supply of the flap was good, the texture was soft, and the appearance was fair. The incision in the donor site healed well with a linear scar, and the color of the skin graft area was similar. Only a rectangular scar could be seen in the skin donor area where have a satisfactory appearance. The blood supply of the distal limb of the healthy limb was good, and there was no obvious abnormality in color and skin temperature, and the blood supply of the limb was normal during activity. The popliteal artery flow velocity in the study group was significantly faster than that in the control group at 1 month after the pedicle was cut, and the foot temperature, toe blood oxygen saturation, S2PD, toenail capillary filling time, and peripheral blood circulation score were significantly better than those in the control group (P<0.05). There were 8 cases of cold feet and 2 cases of numbness on the healthy side in the control group, while only 3 cases of cold feet occurred in the study group. The incidence of complications in the study group (13.04%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (43.47%) (χ2=3.860, P=0.049). There was no significant difference in LEFS score between the two groups at 6 months after operation (P>0.05). ConclusionFlow-through bridge anterolateral thigh flap can reduce postoperative complications of healthy feet and reduce the impact of surgery on blood supply and sensation of healthy feet. It is an effective method for repairing complex calf soft tissue defects.